things, yet what a splendid father he was, and what a salary that 'll send you back to college. If a good husband and honest man. So I just 'lit out,'

you knew how it just broke my heart, and as Tom would say, leaving you to think all sorts of things, but hoping that you'd believe in me.

Mother's—to have you give it up—" “I could n't write before, because, of course, Tom Dad stopped a moment to swallow; then had to make a few inquiries; but they were satis- went on: "Son Tom is all right! He's presifactory, just as I knew they would be, and now he 'll

dent of the very concern I've wanted to get take this with him when he sees your father. "Here's your lucky-piece, my dear—the very same

in touch with. I tell you, daughter, that was a one. I found my purse tucked inside my waist lucky-piece, was n't it?” when I went to bed. I knew I was n't fit to travel "Why, Mother 's crying !" exclaimed David, by myself | Next time I go upon a journey I 'll have suddenly. to take you with me. “You can't think, dear child, how glad I am to

"No, I'm not !" contradicted Mother, though know that you 'll be going back to college, after

she dashed a tell-tale handkerchief across her all; and that I've been able, ever so indirectly, to eyes. “But you 're mistaken this time, Father.” play the part of your fairy godmother."

She rose, and, coming around the table, slipped

between Kathleen and her father, putting an There was a moment's silence as Kathleen arm around each. “It was n’t the lucky-piece laid down the letter; then she cried:

at all,” she said tenderly. "It was just the dear "You don't mean, Dad, that my old lady's way you both have of believing the best of son Tom

everybody." "Oh, yes, I do!” interrupted Dad, joyfully. And who would dare to say that Mother was “The business is saved, and I'm on a salary; not right?

.

WISKEDJAK THE JAY

WISKEDJAK the Moose-bird, Wiskedjak the Mighty Nanabozo changed him to a Bird, Jay,

Ruffing out the feathers with his thumb. Wiskedjak—the rascall-was a Man. Impishly he bantered all who came his way, “Go!” said Nanabozo, “Play your merry Playing tricks on everything that ran.

games! All that ran or bounded, walked or crept or flew Be my Little Jester of the Woods! Through the wood, were targets for his When the green is tender, when the maple jokes;

flames, Jeering at the Eagle, lordly Ken-e-u,

When the mountains don their snowy hoods, Wiskedjak was always plaguing folks ;- Flitting through the pine-boughs like a driven Teasing wily Waguc; scaring from her nest

leaf, Wucagi, the heron of the fen;

You shall mock at all beneath the sky. Worrying the wood-friend, everybody's Though you be a scapegrace, though you be guest,

a thief, Little Oka-pandji-kuc the Wren.

Men shall laugh to see you swagger by!”

By ELLEN MANLY

LOST

A QUEER little lad one

summer's day,
He met with a seri-

ous loss.
He never could tell just

what befell
But of course,

it made him cross.

II
He lost a thing in a

crowd of boys
"IT COULDN'T BE KEPT There was trouble
AT ALL.'

indeed from that; It went again in a shower of rain

And next, when he missed his hat.

III
And once, t'was lost in his garden plot;

And once, at a game of ball;
Till time and again it seemed quite plain

That it couldn't be kept at all!

FOUND

A QUEER little lass, when first she woke,

She found something, they say, One rainy day in the month of May

When the clouds hung dark and gray.

II
She found it again at breakfast-time,

To the family's great surprise-
Mama looked up from her coffee cup,
And grandmother opened her eyes.

V

Now whatever it was that our lassie found III

That morn when the skies were gray, She found it next when the school bell rang, Or our laddie lost, to their serious cost, And it nearly made her late;

It isn't for us to say. And once, at play, in the strangest way,

VI And once, at her luncheon plate.

Though they never have mentioned what was IV

wrong, And she kept on finding it all day long,

We think we know, full well! And a tiresome time she had,

But when skies are bright and hearts are Till 't was lost to sight as she said "goodnight,”

light, And all of her friends were glad.

It doesn't seem fair to tell.

VII
Yet just a hint to the wise we'll give,

They may follow it if they choose
When fault is found there's trouble around,
And temper is easy to lose.

CHE ADVENTURE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE

MAGIC CHESS-BOARD

The Wondering Boy: Fifth Ballad
By CLARA PLATT MEADOWCROFT

"And Peredur proceeded towards the castle and the gate of the castle was open.
And when he came to the hall, he entered. And he beheld a chess-board in the
hall, and the chessmen were playing against each other, by themselves. And the
side that he favored lost the game, and thereupon the others set up a shout, as
though they had been living men. And Peredur was wroth and took the chessmen
in his lap and cast the chess-board into the lake.”—From the Tale of Peredur
the Son of Evrauc.

BEHOLD, the Men of the Eastern Lands came into the Council Hall,
In splendor of scarlet with orange scarves, like shafts of sun, o'er all.
In purple and crimson of many folds came the Men of the Central Plains;
Beneath their cloaks was the gleam of mail and the clanking of silver chains.
Like the green-blue light of water-caves the Lake Men were arrayed, -
In the burning orange of southern suns and the purple of ilex shade.
The Men of the South shone darkly bright; while the Hill Men strode along
In the smoky red of their signal-fires, a free and a proud-necked throng.
In shaggy skins marched the blond-haired Men from the Northern Forests of Oak:
The clubs they bore felled the great wild ox at a single swinging stroke.
And last came the Men of the Western Isles in a goodly company,
With coats as green as the rowan leaf, hearts stout as the rowan tree.
Round the Council Chamber they ranged their ranks, with many a questioning glance,
With wondering whispers, clan to clan, and a hand to sword and lance.
Then out from the band of the Forest Folk a bearded giant strode:
"O Men of the World, we Forest Folk are weary of our abode.
"We look at your lands, and we find them fair; we claim them as our right;
For stronger our clubs than your slender swords, and greater than yours, our might.”
A murmur of wonder and anger rose, and a Man of the Isles, stepped forth:
"As we fight for ourselves, so we fight for all! We have answered, Men of the North !"

1068 THE ADVENTURE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE MAGIC CHESS-BOARD

Quick flashed the swords from the secret sheaths when the doors Alung open wide,
And Peredur, Arthur's stripling Knight, led the Wondering Boy inside.
"Now why must you shed your blood ?” said he; "there be other ways to strive.
Test ye your craft in a game of skill, and save yourselves alive.”

The giants laughed as they wagged their heads : “ 'T was a friend came in the door!
For great as our strength may be," they said, "our craft and our skill are morc.".
On a carven table was laid the chess, and the board was of ruddy gold,
The chessmen of silver, jewel-set. The leader grew loud and bold:

“I will play a game with your craftiest chief, whatever his rank or name."
But Peredur answered, knightly-wise, “This child shall play the game.
Think not he is overmatched in strength. Who champions liberty
Has all the powers of earth and air, and the forces beneath the sea.

will:

"But this is the stake ye play withal: if ye win, ye

will have

your If ye lose, ye may go unscathed to your homes, but your clubs must be left here still.” The game began: “Oh!" the Boy cried out. "Some wizard has cast a spell ! No hand moved near them above the board, but three of my pieces fell!"

The giant laughed, but the Knight replied, unsmiling, "Play thy game !"
The game went on and the chessmen fell, till the boy cried out, "For shame!
He wins unfairly!” “But play thy game !" As a dream the game went on,
Till bishops and castles and pawns and knights, and the white queen, too, were gone.

The white king stood in a ring of his foes, and the giant laughed again;
But the Boy cried out, "I am only tricked, not beaten! Up, my men!"
And lo, as Peredur clapped his hands, the chessmen sprang from the ground,
They fought and shouted like living men, they countered by leap and bound !

But ever they moved by the rules of chess; and there, at the set of sun,
Each path was blocked round the giant's king, and the game was fairly won.
The Forest Men filed out of the Hall in silent and slow retreat;
And each, as he passed by the Wondering Boy, laid down a club at his feet.